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Home |This course is an introductory survey of the archaeology, art and architecture of ancient Egypt, ranging in time from the prehistoric cultures of the Nile Valley through the period of Roman control. While the course will examine famous features and characters of ancient Egypt (pyramids, mummies, King Tut!), it will also provide a wide-ranging review of the archaeology of this remarkable land.
The goals of this course are two-fold. First, it is intended to provide students with a general understanding of the development of Egyptian material culture over more than three millennia. It is expected that students will demonstrate a basic grasp of the types of objects and buildings made and used by the ancient Egyptians, and how they aid our understanding of social, political, religious and economic structures. Second, the course is intended to provide students with a set of critical thinking skills that are applicable to the study of the ancient world in general. We will continually examine what kinds of evidence are available and what kinds of questions can, and cannot, be answered on the basis of that evidence.